Monday, September 21, 2015

The Little Lebowski Shop on Thompson Street in the Village is closing, probably at the end of the month.

While I like the Coen Brothers' movies, I wasn't a big fan of The Big Lebowski, so I can't say I've done any shopping at the Little Lebowski Shop. Still, odd independent stores like this--especially those fueled by one eccentric individual's singular obsession--give the city streetscape a certain flavor. And when they close they're usually replaced by something flavorless, like a purveyor of acai bowls or dog sweaters--or acai bowls for dogs.

However, the For Rent sign does say "no food uses," so perhaps it'll just be the sweaters.

photo tip by Jessie Walsh-Rosenstock

I emailed owner Roy Preston, who mans the shop in his bathrobe, and asked for the scoop. He responded:

"The brick and mortar section of our business is closing. The website will remain active. Customers can shop at the new Little Lebowski Shop - http://new.littlelebowskishop.com - where we'll have a wider selection of merchandise and lower prices. So we're not vanishing but rather moving forward."

No comment about the rent, but Roy did add, "Running a business in New York City has become too expensive."

3 comments:

Have passed by there occasionally and noticed this little eccentric shop. It literally represents the kind of business that cannot exist anymore in NY with today's rents. Though, even B&N can't, so not sure what businesses can really make it long term.

Have you seen the shiny, new condo space clogging up the atmosphere on Sullivan? Last I was there in August, it was still under construction and about as interesting as instant oatmeal. But without the nutrition.

Downtowner at 4:26PM brings up an interesting and heretofore unaddressed point: in an age of increasing reliance upon internet shopping for almost all consumer goods (food, clothing, entertainment) how does ANY bricks-and-mortar establishment survive? Lebowski acknowledges that he will now rely upon a web presence rather than a physical one. If this is how he makes his business and life succeed, what is the real point of decrying the closing of a physical shop that clearly isn't being visited by enough consumers to stay afloat?

In other words, although it's hard, we need to see that many basic aspects of the way we live are being unavoidably changed by technology, and unless we have the money and power to stop those changes, we have no choice but to work with them or stay eternally disgruntled and miserable.